Sberbank's 'School 21' Opens in Yakutsk, Empowering Adults with Free Digital Skills
Sberbank's 'School 21', a free digital technology school, has opened its first campus in the Far East region, Yakutsk. This initiative aims to empower adults aged 18 and above with digital skills, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Yakutsk campus, launched in November 2023, is one of 20 'School 21' campuses spread across 18 cities in Russia, with plans to expand further. The school offers a unique opportunity for anyone who passes the selection stages to learn digital technologies free of charge.
The program has already shown significant results. Over 1700 participants have completed selection intensives, with 350 currently in the main training. Among them are Alina Makarova and her team, who created the 'Constructor of Tourist Routes in the Republic of Sakha' startup. This project, along with others like the computer vision model for road defect detection, has attracted major investors. The 'School 21' community encourages peer-to-peer learning, leading to the creation of projects that are now leading in the 'B8' accelerator program. Notably, 90 participants have secured jobs in IT companies, and many have started their own startups.
The 'School 21' initiative in Yakutsk is not only providing digital skills training but also fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. With over 20 campuses across Russia and plans to expand, the school is poised to continue making a significant impact on the tech industry and economy.
